Confidence Quote by E.M. Forster
““You remember how he would trust strangers, and if they fooled him he would say: ‘It’s better to be fooled than to be suspicious’—that the confidence trick is the work of man, but the want-of-confidence trick is the work of the devil.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Passage to India, 1924
Blind trust can be more comforting than suspicion, but it also makes one vulnerable to deception.
In simple terms: Trusting strangers feels safer than doubting.
Key Takeaway
Balance trust with healthy skepticism.
Themes
trust
deception
human nature
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
advisory
When to use this quote
- forming new relationships
- business negotiations
- online interactions
- personal safety
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you question someone's motives?
- How does suspicion affect relationships?
A Different Perspective
Over‑trust can lead to exploitation.
